Churu

For a perfect cultural tourism in Rajasthan, don't overlook this small village called Churu, which is like an oasis in the state of Rajasthan. Though it is not really considered to be a part of the Shekhawati region, but its exquisite sandalwood carvings and painted murals, make people outrightly refuse this fact and believe that its a brilliant expression of Rajasthani artwork.

Churu was founded in 1563 as a part of the kingdom of Bikaner. It is a dynamic desert city which held significant importance as a trade town in the 18th century, since it fell in the trade caravan route. The Poddars were among the eminent traders that belonged to Churu, but they later defected to Ramgarh, after they were imposed heavy taxes on wool trade, by the local Chieftains of Churu.

Sights:
Malji ka Kamra:
Taking you through the glimpses of the past are the muddy lanes of the erstwhile trade town, which is lined up with large havelis. One of the grand havelis here is Maljika Kamra, which lies to the north of the bus stand and close to the Main Bazaar. This mansion resembles a huge wedding cake with its pale blue moldings and green pillars. On its external walls are paintings of turbaned men, saree clad women and angels.

Surana Double Haveli:
A short walk from Malji ka Kamra is needed to reach the Surana Double Haveli, which is a five storied structure with elegant doorways and hundreds of artistically carved out rectangular windows. It was built by Oswal Jain family, another merchant family belonging to this region.

Surajmal Banthia Haveli:
Going down the lane, a further 100 m to the northwest, you will come across the Surajmal Banthia Haveli which was built in the 1920s. It has some rare but weird paintings which are not present in any of the havelis. One of the paintings shows Christ with a cigar and a British woman standing besides him. To the north of the haveli is an inverted painting of naked men carrying rabbits with them.

Sleeping & Eating:
It would be better if you come to Churu for a day sightseeing trip due to unavailability of good accommodations here, but still if you have to stay here for another day, you can head towards Hotel Deluxe. It is situated opposite to the private bus station. The rooms are small but the charges are reasonable.

Getting There & Away:
Churu is connected to nearby villages and towns of Rajasthan by regular buses available from the Private Bus Station. Half a kilometer from here is the Roadways Bus Stand, from were buses are easily available for Delhi and Jaipur. The Train Station of Churu is situated about a 100 m from the Private Bus Stand from where trains are available for Delhi, Bikaner and Jaipur.